Method and apparatus for cementing wells



March 14, 1944. c, BAKER 2,344,120

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CEMENTI-NG WELLS Filed April 21, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Q7 37- 3 3a F ""37 14 i1] 14 15 Q l 35 if I i 35 '3: I 1212 INVENTOR:

" fizz/BEN C. EAKEQ,

'BY 16 I I Q; M ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. c. BAKER Filed April 21,1941 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CEMENTING WELLS March 14, 1944.

a a a m a w z :2 J 5 RE i 2 H 5 M m r I I :A O T a a 6 QA A W N u E 5 w4 1 4 m m 5 M 25% a a z 5 z 5 1 0 2 A 5 1 A 3 5 J 3 1 Y 1 w/, I 4 B.....N. .7, ywb en h 1: g \V l I. 4. 1 u. ,1 I E. H, u." a g z a a 7 2zur/vv/ 4 I III] a l w 4V a 5 i a M22 2 g a Patented Mar. 14, 1944UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Reuben C. Baker, Coalinga, Calif., assignorto Baker Oil Tools, Inc., Vernon, Cali1'., a corpora tion of CaliforniaApplication April 21, 1941, Serial No. 389,591 17 Claims. (o 166-1) Thisinvention relates to devices employable an upright and an invertedbasket by use of a in well bores, and is particularly concerned withtubing string and connected mandrel, because devices capable of formingan annular bridge or of the fact that the latter members must beposibarrier between a well casing and the wall of a tioned belowtheinverted barrier and within a confining bore hole. Apparatus of thisgeneral 5 ported collar adjacent the upright barrier to character aredisclosed in my prior Patents perform the washing operation, and inpassing 1,561,768 and 2,117,538, and also in my applicathrough thecollar carrying the inverted basket, tion, Serial No. 343,584, filedJuly 2, 1940, for its release has been efiected, allowing its expan-"Casing bridging devices, Patent No. 2,275,936. sion into engagementwith the formation and In the drilling and completion of oil and similarprecluding passage of circulating and washing wells, it is commonpractice to cement a casing fluid upwardly along the casing beyond thebasor liner string in the well bore. In some ink t- S a esult. it hasbeen difllcult to p operly stances, one or more annular barriers arept'ocondition the confined well space for reception vided between thecasing and wall of the bore of cement slurry. hole to confine cementslurry to a particular Accordingly, it isafurther object of theinvenregion along the casing. It is desirable for such tion to provide acasing barrier or cement basket barriers to be in retracted positionwhile the arrangement which canbe held in retracted posicasing is beingrun in the hole, in order to avoid tion as long as desired, and withoutregard to frictional contact with the hole wall and damage the passageof cementing or other tools through to the parts of the device. Someannular barriers the casing. By means of .the invention, it is posnowused are of generally frusto-conical form sible to maintain an invertedannularcasing when in expanded condition, and may include barrier inretracted position until after the drilla petal basket, as described inmy Patent ing or other fluid has been flushed from the well 2,117,538.An upright basket of this type, or one bore. Following the washingoperation, the indiverging in an upward direction, can be lowered vertedbasket may be released hydraulically, as in the casing in its inherentlyexpanded condiby employing a tubular string and mandrel, and tion, sincethe petals will readily slide over. the cementitious material depositedbehind the the wall of the bore hole without damage. Howcasing along thelocations defined by the baskets. ever, the petals of an invertedbasket, or one In this connectiomif a series of locations sepadivergingin a downward direction, may dig into rated longitudinally by Sets Oupright and the hole wall upon lowering of the casing string, vertedbarriers or baskets is employed, washing and may produce failure of thebasket parts, of each location or zone, release of its inverted besidesbreaking down the wall of the well bore. barrier, and cementing of thezone preferably Accordingly, it is an object of the present inventakesplace in upward sequence, to avoid restriction to provide an apparatusin which a casing tions to the upward passage of circulating fluidbarrier or basket arrangement can be held in by an upper, previouslyreleased, basket.

retracted position while the casing is being low- This invention is alsoconcerned with an imered in the bore hole, release of such basket provedmethod for washing and cementing a being effected hydraulically wheneverdesired. formation zone defined between annular casing Althoughparticular reference has been made to bridges or baskets by' sh u Z0118Prior the holding of an inverted barrier in retracted o expansion of itsupper annular brid e, rele sposition while lowering the casing in thehole, ing i e, and n depositing the Cement an upright basket may also beheld retracted slurry in the zone or location bein operated and releasedhydraulically in a similar manner. upon.

Longitudinally separated upright and inverted This invention has otherobjects that will beopposed barriers or baskets are employed to prom appr nt from a n i era i n f the emvide confined annular spaces around the'casing bodiments shown in the drawings accompanying in which cement maybe deposited. This arand formin part of the present specification.

rangement may be used for only a single stage These forms will now bedescribed in detail, but cementing operation, or for several longitudiitis to be understood that such detailed descripnally separated locationsalong the bore of the tion is not to. be taken in a limited sense, sincehole, as where more than one oil bearing strata the scope ot-theinvention is best defined by the is encountered and it is desired toseparate such claims appended hereto.

strata by cementitious seals. It has heretofore Referring to thedrawings: been cliflicult to properly'wash the area between Figure 1is-a longitudinal section through a 'll and petals portion of a wellbore and a liner or casing con- Figure 3 is a partial longitudinalsection one an enlarged scale showing the upper basket in retractedposition;

Figure 4 is a view similar to" Figure l of another form of theinvention, employing apparatus such as described in my Patents 2,187,480and 2,187,483;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section similar to Figure 4 disclosing thecementing mandrel on the lower end of a tubing string in operativeposition for releasing the initially retracted, inverted cement basket;and

Figure 63s a longitudinal section similar to Figure 4 illustrating theejection of cement from the cement mandrel and the lower cementingcollar after the inverted basket has been released.

'As disclosed in the drawings, a casing or liner string III ispositioned in a well bore, carrying one or moreannular barriers ll, I!for'forming a bridge between'the casing and wall of the bore hole. Inthe present instance, an upper inverted barrier ll. of the peta type.described in my Patent .No. 2,117,538, is secured to the exterior of acasing section or collar l3, the basket consisting. of leaf springs l4secured to the exterior of overlapping basket petals l5, with'the endsof these members attached to a ring l6 welded or otherwise mounted onthe collar. The springs I4 and petals l5 inherently tend to assume. anexpanded, generally frustoconical or bucket shape.

The inverted basket ring i6 is fastened to an upper collar l3 with itsattached-depending peta and springs heldinitially in retracted positionagainst the casing. As shown in the drawings, the skirt ll of a retainersleeve l8 encompasses the leaf springs l5, extending downwardly fromthis point along an outwardly projecting collar flange or piston l9, andterminating in an inwardly directed sleeve head initially secured shearscrews 2|.

seals for preventing leakage of sleeve and collar. Such seals mayconsist of round elastic rings 22, 23 positioned in oppositely taperedgrooves 24, 25 formed in the flange and head, the rings having slidablesealing e gagement with the inner surfac of the skirt l1 and the collarexterior, respectively.

When expansion of the inverted basket I l into the formation is to bepermitted, pressure point within the collar l3 to the fluid in theannular cylinder space 26 formed between the piston l9, skirt I], head20 and collar, thisfluid entering the cylinder space through one or morelateral ports 28 in the collar between the piston and head. Uponincrease in the fluid pressure to the proper magnitude, the shear screws2| are disrupted and the sleeve l8 then shifted downwardly along thecollar from engagement with the leaf springs l4 and petals" l5,permitting their inherent outward expansion into contact with the wallof the bore hole. The extent of this downward shifting is limited by astop ring 25 secured to the collar 9, sufficient distance below theinitial position of the retainer sleeve 18 to allow its upper end tomove from engagement with the piston seal 22 and open the lateral ports28 to the passage of fluid between the interior and exterior of thecasing.

As disclosed in Figure 1, the fluid under pressure necessary fortripping the retainer sleeve and releasing the upper inverted basket canbe supplied through a suitable perforation cementer or mandrel 30secured to the lower end of a tubing string 3|. This cementer includesopposed packing members or swabs 32, 33 adapted to slidably seal withthe wall of the casing for confining the fluid pressure to the interiorof the casing between the packing members. Fluid can exit from thecementer mandrel 30 through the lateral cementing port 34 between thepacking members 32, 33.

To effect release of the retracted basket II, the cementing mandrel 30is run in the casing on the tubular string 3| until its opposed packingsare in sealing engagement with the casing on opposite sides of thecollar ports 28. Pressure v fluid within the tubing, and this will betransmitted through the fluid in the confined space members 32, 33 tothe interior of the sleeve l3, disrupting the shear screws 2| andlowering the sleeve sufllciently to free the ends of the basket andpermit its expansion against the wall of the hole, in the mannerheretofore described.

Although specific reference has been made to release of an invertedbarrier or basket, it is apparent that an upright member 12 couldsimilarly beheld in retracted position, and its release effected in thesame manner as the inverted basket H. The identical collar withretracted basket attached need only be reversed so that the free ends ofthe basket face in an upward direction.

The hydraulically releasable inverted basket H can be employed inconjunction with a spaced upright basket l2 to isolate a formation zoneElong a specified distance. This arrangement is made up on the casingstring with the inverted basket ll secured to its upper collar l3 andthe upright basket l2 mounted on a spaced lower collar or casing section35 below a suitable cementing collar 36 having lateral ports 31 throughwhich fluid may be ejected into the bore surrounding the casing. Theseports are closed by a suitable back pressure valve, which sleeve 38secured at one end collar 36 and with its free end adapted to be forcedoutwardly by fluid under pressure within th casing against the action ofcircumferentially spaced leaf springs 39, whose lower ends are attachedto the collar 36. Cement slurry or other fluid issuing from these ports31 will travel upwardly along the casing toward the inverted basketl|,'its return flow being prevented by snug engagement of the rubbersleeve 38 against the exterior of the ported collar area. a

The string of casing I0 is run into the well bore until its longitudinalsection between the upper and lower baskets H, I! is positioned oppositethe formation zone along which the cement seal is to be provided. Theperforation cementer 30 on the end of the tubing string 3| is loweredinto the casing until its opposed packing members 32, 33 ar disposed onopposite .sides of the cementing ports 3'1. Circulation may then beestablished through the tubing for outward passage through the cementingport 34 between the packings, and through the casing. or collar ports 3!for upward passage along the casing beyond the inverted basket II. Thiscirculation will effectively wash the wall of the bore hole andcondition the well for the cementing oper. ation.

After washing has been completed, the cementer 3!] is elevated withinthe casing until its opposed packings 32, 33 are disposed on oppositesides of the lateral releasing ports 28. Pressure built up in the tubingstring and mandrel 30 is confined to the casing space between thepacking'cups, being transmitted to the fluid within the sleevecylinderl8 to shear the screws 2| and shift the sleeve downwardlyto its fullestextent against the stop ring 29, in which position the sleeve clears thepiston packing 22 to open the releasing ports 28. Upon release ofrestraint, the petals" and springs of the inverted basket inherentlyexpand into engagement with the wall of the formation, so as topreventfiuids and other material from moving upwardly alongthe casingbeyond the basket.

Following release of the upper inverted basket, the cementer 38 islowered in the casing until its opposed packings 32, 33 are againdisposed on opposite sides of the cementing collar ports 31, and theproper amount of cement slurry ejected through the mandrel ports 34 andcementing ports 31 into the annular space between the upper and lowerbaskets |2. The Washing fluid contained between these baskets precedesthe cement in its upward movement for passage through the open releasingports 28 and into the casing for delivery to the surface of 'the wellbore. Any excess cement also passes through these upper ports orpassages for flushing from the casing. After suiflcient cement has beendisposed behind the casing between the baskets l2, release of pressurewithin the cementing tool 30 and tubing 3| allows the rubber sleeve 38to seal over the ports 31 and prevent return flow or the slurry into thecasing.

I? more than one casing section is to be cemented, the tubing string ismoved to the new location in the casing, and the aforementionedoperations repeated. That is, washing of the formation and casingexterior is followed by release of the inverted basket after which thecement is deposited along the specified zone through the lower cementingcollar 36. It is preferred that such multiple stage or series cementingoperations be performed in upward sequence, to prevent an upper,previously released basket from interfering with the washing of a lowerzone.

As disclosed in Figures 1 and 2, it is possible to perform single stageor series washing and cementing operations, and also effect release ofretracted baskets or annular casing barriers at will by means of a toolcapable of sealing within an unrestricted casing, and of properpositioning opposite its various sets of lateral ports. A second form ofthe invention is disclosed in Figures 4 and 6, in which the same basketarrangement as was heretofore described is employed, but in which thereleasing collar for the inverted basket I is modified in order toprovide a restriction in the casing and permit the use of the cementingmandrel and collar design specifically described in my Patent 2,187,483.

Essentially, this mandrel, 40 consists of a plurality of retractablelatches 4| and a pair of sealing rings 42, 43 disposed on opposite sidesof mandrel cementing ports 44. The latches 4| are adapted to seat uponthe upper end of a stop sleeve 45 secured in the upper collar |3aadjacent its outer ports 28 for the purpose of positively locating themandrel sealing rings 42, 43 on opposite sides of the stop sleeve ports46, which will direct fluid under pressure from the mandrel outlets 44,through the stop sleeve openings 46 and outer collar ports 28 into theretainer sleeve cylinder 26, producing shearing of the screws 2| andshifting of the retainer sleeve |8 to basket releasing position. Thestop sleeve 45 is suitably secured in spaced relation to the innersurface of the collar l3, as by upper and lower flanges 41, 48 Onopposite sides of its ports 28, which are engageable with upper andlower annular cement plugs 49, 50 anchored to the collar to hold thestop sleeve against longitu-: dinal movement in either direction withinthe casing.

Although the stop sleeve 45 is of materially reduced diameter whencompared with the internal diameter of the'casing or collar, thcementing mandrel 40 is able to pass, completely through this sleevewhen its latches 4| are retracted. As explained in Patent 2,187,483,these latches are initially held retracted in a positive manner untilthe cementing mandrel passes through all of the restricted collarswithin the casing, whereupon the latches are released to permit theirretraction against the force of a spring 5| only upon moving upwardlyinto engagement with the tapered undersides 52 of the restrictedcollars. However, after having once been released, these latches 4|, donot retract to permit movement of the mandrel downwardly through therestricted collars, but seat upon the tapered shoulder 53 for-med at theupper end of the stop sleeve 45 and upper cement plug49, to locate themandrel seals 42, 43 on opposite sides of'the sleeve ports 45, in orderto release the basket l, as described above.

The lower cementing collar 54 ,is of a similar construction to thereleasing collar |3a,-but addi: tionally carries a back pressurevalve-in the form of an elastic sleeve 55 positioned over the exteriorof the stop sleeve ports 46a. As is fully. described in Patent2,187,483, when the released mandrel latches 4| rest on the upper end ofthe inner stop sleeve 45a, its opposed packing members 42, 43 aredisposed on opposite sides of the cementing ports 46a allowing cementslurry or other fluids to open the back pressure valve 55 for ejectionunder pressure through the sleeve ports and passage through the collarports 37a into the bore surrounding the casing.

In Figure 4, the tubing string 3| is disclosed as extending completelythrough both the upper and lower collars |3a, 54. When in this position,a cementing operation at a lower stage in the casing might be performed,and release of the mandrel latches 4| effected. After the performance ofa;

lower cementing orother operation, or release of the latches, the tubingstring is elevated, the mandrel latches 4| engaging the lower inclinedportion 52 of the lower collar, which will produce their retraction andpermit movement of the mandrel to a position just above this collar.Lowering of the tubing string and mandrel causes its latches 4| to seatupon the upper collar shoulder 53 and locate its packing members 42, 43on opposite sides of the sleeve cementing ports 46a.

A washing operation can now take place, the fluid passing upwardly fromthe ports 31a of the lower collar along the casing and beyond theinverted basket II, which is still in its retracted position. Followingthe washing operation, the tubing string II and mandrel 40 are elevatedthrough the upper collar I31; and the mandrel latches 4| positioned uponthe shoulder 53 on the upper stop sleeve 45 (as shown in Figure 5)permitting release of the retainer sleeve IS in the manneraforementioned, and expansion of the inverted basket springs and petalsinto engagement with the formation.

The tubing string 3| and mandrel 40 are then removed from the well bore,and the latches ll relocked in retracted position to permit downwardpassage of the mandrel once again through the restricted collars. Uponreaching a position below the releasing collar l3a, the latches ll mayagain be tripped and released in order that they can be expandedoutwardly and rest upon the lower shoulder 53 of the cementing collarsleeve "a and establish the seals on opposite sides of the sleeve ports46a once more. The necessary amount of cementitious material may now beejected from the mandrel, through the sleeve ports 46a and collar ports31a for upward passage along the casing or liner toward the released andexpanded inverted basket II. The fluid preceding this cement slurryflows inwardly through the open retainer ports 28 and upper sleeve-ports48 for upward passage around the tubing to the surface of the bore hole.As was described in connection with the other form of the invention, anyexcess cement slurry also moves through these ports for flushing to thesurface of the bore.

The arrangement disclosed in Figures 4, 5 and 6 is applicable to asingle stage, and also to a plurality of stages, depending upon whetherit is desirable to perform a multiple stage cementing operation alongthe length of the casing, or whether a series cementing operation atseparated zones along the casing is necessary. Here again, as inconnection with the other form of the invention, it is preferred toperform the necessary washing operation, release of the inverted basket,and

deposition of the cement slurry through each stage in an upwardsequence.

Following the performance of all of the cementing operations, the tubingand cementing mandrel may be removed from the casing and the cementallowed to set and harden. The stop sleeves 45, a are made of drillablematerial, so that the restricted casing portions may be drilled out toprovide an unrestricted and unobstructed casing bore.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that an apparatus hasbeen provided by means of which a retracted annular barrier or basketmay be released at will, enabling the casing string to be lowered safelyin the bore to the desired position. Thorough washing along anyspecified formation zone can occur prior to release of the invertedbasket, giving greater assurance that the cement seal formed in thatparticular zone will be leak-proof.

I claim: 1

1. In combination with a tubular well casing, a well device mounted onsaid casing for bridging the annular space between said casing and thesurrounding wall of a well bore, means for holding said device inretracted position, means for sliding said holding means along saidcasing to release said bridging device and allow its expansion intoengagement with the wall of said bore hole,

and means within said casing for feeding fluid under pressure to saidsliding means.

2. In combination with a tubular well member adapted to form part of acasing or liner string, a well device mounted on said member forbridging the annular space between said member and the surrounding wallof a well bore, means for holding said device in retracted position,means for shifting said holding means and device with respect to eachother to release said bridging device and allow its expansion intoengagement with the wall of said bore hole, said casing being providedwith means for feeding fluid under pressure to said shifting means,

3. In combination with a tubular well casing, an annular inherentlyexpansible well-bridging device mounted on said casing, means forretaining said device in retracted position, and means within saidcasing for producing relative sliding movement along said casing betweensaid bridging device and retaining means to permit outward expansion ofthe former.

4. In combination with a tubular well casing, an annular inherentlyexpansible well bridging device mounted on said casing, means forretaining said device in retracted position, and means includinginstrumentalities within said casing for shifting said retaining meansto release said bridging device and allow its outward expansion.

5. In combination with a tubular well casing, a generally frusto-conicalbasket mounted on said casing, fluid pressure responsive means forretaining said basket in retracted position adjacent said casing, andmeans for feeding fluid under pressure to said means to effect itsrelease from said basket and permit outward expansion of the latter.

6. In combination with a tubular well casing, a generally frusto-conicalbasket mounted on said casing, means slidable on said casing forretaining said basket in retracted position adjacent said casing, saidcasing being provided with means for feeding fluid under pressure tosaid retaining means to eifect its release from said basket and permitoutward expansion of the latter.

7. In combination with a tubular well casing, a generally frusto-conicalbasket mounted on said casing, mean" on said casing for retaining thelarger end of said basket in retracted position adjacent said casing,said casing being provided with means for feeding fluid under pressureto said retaining .means, whereby its release from said basket iseffected and outward expansion of the latter permitted.

8. In combination with a tubular well member adapted to form part of acasing or liner string, a generally frusto-conical basket mountedon saidmember, a sleeve on said member embracing the larger end of said basketto hold it in retracted position adjacent said member, said sleeve beingconstructed and arranged to be slidable in response to fluid pressure,means providing a slidable seal between said sleeve and member, andmeans for feeding fluid under pressure to said sleeve to slide it alongsaid member and eilect its release from said basket.

9. In combination with a ported tubular well member adapted to form partof a casing or liner string, a generally frusto-conical basket mountedon said member, a retaining sleeve on said member having slidablesealing engagement therewith on opposite sides of its ports to form anannular cylinder, said sleeve embracing the larger and of said basket tohold it in retracted position adjacent said member, whereby fluid underpressure from within said member may be fed into said cylinder to shiftsaid sleeve from engagement with said basket and permit outwardexpansion of the latter.

10. In combination with a ported tubular well member adapted to formpart of a casing or liner string and having a substantially unrestrictedbore, a generally frusto-conical basket mounted on said member, aretaining sleeve on said member embracing the larger end of said basketto hold it in retracted position adjacent said member, said sleevehaving slidable sealing engagement with said member on opposite sides ofits ports to form an annular cylinder, whereby fl'uid under pressurefrom within said member may be fed into said cylinder to shift saidsleeve from engagement with said basket and permit outward expansion'ofthe latter.

11. In combination with a tubular well member adapted to form part of acasing or liner string, a generally frusto-conical basket mounted onsaid member, means for retaining said basket in retraoted positionadjacent said member, and hydraulically actuated means for moving saidbasket and retaining means with respect to each other to permit outwardexpansion of the basket.

12. In combination with a tubular well member adapted to form part of acasing or liner string, a generally frusto-conical basket mounted onsaid member, a sleeve on said member embracing the larger end of saidbasket to hold it in retracted position adjacent said member, andhydraulically actuated means for moving said basket and sleeve withrespect to each other to free the larger end of said basket and permitits outward expansion. I

13. In combination with a tubular member having a discharge port andadapted, to form part of a casing or liner string, a tubular stop devicesecured therein adjacent said port and having a medial portion ofreduced external diameter forming, with the wall of the member, anannular chamber with which said port communicates, said device beingprovided with a lateral passage communicating with its bore and withsaid chamber, a generally frusto-conical basket mounted on said member,a retaining sleeve on said member embracing the larger end of saidbasket to hold it in retracted position adjacent said member, saidsleeve having slidable sealing engagement with said member on oppo sitesides of its port to form an annular cylinder.

ment with said basket and permit its outward expansion.

14. The method of cementing a casing string in a well bore, whichcomprises establishing a barrier to bridge the annular space between thecasing string and well bore, circulating fluid through the annular spaceabove said barrier, then establishing a second barrier above said firstbarrier to bridge the annular space between said casing string and wellbore, and cementing said annular space between said barriers.

15. The method of cementing well casing in a well bore along separatedupper and lower formation zones, which comprises establishing a. barrierat the lower end of said lower zone to bridge the annular space betweenthe casing and well bore, circulating fluid through the annular spaceabove said barrier, then establishing asecond barrier at the upper endof said lower zone to bridge the annular space between said casing andwell bore, cementing said annular space between said barriers,establishing a third barrier at the lower end of said upper zone tobridge the annular space between said casing and well bore, circulatingfluid through the annular space above said third barrier, thenestablishing a fourth barrier at the upper end of said upper zone tobridge the annular space between said casing and well bore, andcementing said annular space between said third and fourth barriers.

16. In combination with a tubular well member adapted to form part of acasing or liner string, a generally frusto-conical basket mounted onsaid member, and fluid operated piston and cylinder means on said memberfor retaining said basket in retracted position adjacent said member,said means being responsive tofluid under pressure for effecting itsrelease from said basket.

17. In combination with a tubular well member adapted to form part oi. acasing or liner string, a generally frusto-conical basket mounted onsaid member, means for retaining said basket in retracted position, andcooperable annular cylinder and piston means on said member foreffecting release of said retaining means from said basket.

REUBEN C. BAKER.

